Recent Spike in Armed Robberies and Carjackings in West Town, Chicago
After a period of relative calm following successful police arrests earlier this year, West Town in Chicago is once again experiencing a surge in armed robberies and carjackings. Over a span of just a few hours from Friday evening to Saturday afternoon, five incidents were reported in the West Town community area, spanning neighborhoods like Logan Square, the West Loop, and Ukrainian Village. Some of these crimes seem to be linked to the same group of perpetrators.
The first incident occurred around 8:20 p.m. on Friday, where a limo driver was carjacked at gunpoint by three masked men in the 2200 block of West Race. The men, one of whom brandished a long gun, stole the woman’s 2020 Lincoln Continental before fleeing in a dark SUV. Shortly after, at 10:40 p.m., three masked men robbed a woman in the 400 block of North Aberdeen, making off with her purse and phone.
In the early hours of Saturday, two masked men in a silver sedan committed another armed robbery in the 900 block of West Randolph. The criminal activities continued later that day, with a dark SUV intentionally colliding with another driver’s car at Campbell and Wabansia in Logan Square. Five men, all wearing ski masks, emerged from the SUV and stole the victim’s white Kia sedan.
Most recently, two men armed with guns robbed two women in the 900 block of North Wolcott around 3 p.m. on Saturday, fleeing in a white sedan driven by a third accomplice. The suspects in all these incidents were described as young Black males in black or navy hoodies and dark ski masks.
Despite initial improvements earlier this year following increased police presence and arrests, robbery reports in the West Town neighborhoods have once again risen. However, compared to last year, one police district has seen a 35% decrease in robberies, while the other has experienced a 44% decline. While still higher than previous years, these numbers indicate progress in combating crime in the area.
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